The Battle for Skandia takes place in a time when fierce northern warriors called Skandians (vikings) sail from their homeland to the coast of a nearby kingdom to raid the nearby villages and towns. The story follows an apprentice named Will, who is captured along with the princess Cassandra who goes by the alias Evelyn. Will and Evelyn were brought back to the viking's homeland to be sold as slaves to the local Jarl (Baron); and the Jarl then sold them to the OberJarl (King of the Jarls). The OberJarl sentenced Will to field work, and Evelyn to maidwork. Will is worked to the brink of death when one of the honorable vikings recognizes him on the brink of death. The honorable viking (named Erak) gave a secret message to Evelyn which read," Meet me by the field slaves' hut after your handlers and fellow slaves fall into a deep sleep -E"(Pg. 139). Erak helped break them out because he believed that such a formidable opponent like Will should not have been brought down to such a low level. Evelyn brings a nearly dead Will to an abandoned hunting shack for the remainder of the winter and nurses him back to regular health. When spring finally arrives, Will's mentor (Halt) finds Will's hunting tracks and follows them to the shack. After a reunion, Halt leads them to a port where they sail back to the kingdom and the princess reunites with her father (the king). The King graduates Will so he is no longer an apprentice ranger.
John Flanagan is an Australian author, who now lives in Sydney. His most well known works are the Rangers Apprentice series. He went to Waverley college, and his talent wasn't discovered until he wrote a poem about a senior executive at the agency where he worked at the time. In 20008, he won the Australian Publishers Book of The Year for Older Children as well as the International Success Award.
I think the novel had a lot of historical facts such as the name for the barons and kings (Jarl and OberJarl) there was a section in the story about how the viking ships were built, and how they placed their bucklers (shields) on the sides of their ships so their rowers had protection from volleys of arrows from the villages they raided. All in all the novel had many historical similarities that made the story educational as well as entertaining.
This book, from the looks of the cover, is from a series. If this is what happens in one book I would love to see all of the adventure in the others. The viking history sounds as if it is blended well throughout the novel. From what I have read, I think I want to read the series for myself.
ReplyDeleteThe action and historical fact in this book alone makes me want to read the rest of the series. The topic is very interesting and the way you wrote it, it seems like all the history is the same throughout the book.
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